STORY OF BOYCOTTING, CARNEGIE'S LIBRARIES, PAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS, CLUE, CORTLAND HOSPITAL DONATIONS, AND DEATH OF J. D. PIERCE

 

1902 coal strike commissioners.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, January 8, 1903.

STORY OF BOYCOTTING.

Evidence of Lawlessness During the Strike.

AN ALLEGED REIGN OF TERROR.

Five Witnesses Testified to Their Houses Being Damaged by Explosives— Bridges and Fences Burned, Switches Turned and Obstructions Placed on Railroads.

   Philadelphia, Jan. 8.—The non-union men continue to occupy the attention of the coal strike commission in presenting evidence of lawlessness in the anthracite coal region during the strike.

   The testimony included many acts of violence from murder down to plain assault and petit larceny. Dynamite played a leading part in the alleged persecution of non-union men and their relatives.

   Five witnesses testified to their houses being more or less seriously damaged by persons, some of them known to be union men, placing high explosives on the property; other witnesses told of a dam being blown up, one locomotive damaged, steam pipes in two different collieries either broken or damaged by dynamite, bridges and fences damaged by incendiary fires and attempted wrecking of trains.

   One youth said he was stabbed, several of the witnesses claimed they were boycotted and several others told of being beaten by crowds and of their houses being stoned.

   Besides this a young woman told the commission she was dismissed as a school teacher because her brother chose to work during the strike, and a young man testified that he was attacked as he was coming out of church after being married, forcing him to seek refuge in a colliery while his bride got home as best she could.

   Another witness said he was afraid to attend the funeral of his mother, who had died while he was working behind a colliery stockade. One witness told of having been punished by a mob forcing him to walk 15 miles at the head of a cheering crowd of strikers.

   Other testimony was also presented in the endeavor to show that a reign of terror existed in the strike affected territory of the state and that members of the union were largely responsible for it.

   It is the intention of the attorneys for the non-union men to occupy about two days more in presenting this sort of evidence. Today they expect to place on the stand Brigadier General Gobin of the Third brigade, N. G. P., and several of the commanders of the regiments in the field during the strike.

   Charles Carl of Mahanoy City, a loader boss at the Tunnel Ridge colliery of the Reading company, said he was compelled to remain within the confines of the colliery because he was afraid to go home. While his mother was lying dead in the house, he was annoyed, called vile names and his life threatened. He did not attend the funeral of his parent because he was afraid he would be killed.

   David L. Jenkins of Pottsville, a coal and iron policeman at the Silver Creek colliery of the Reading company at New Philadelphia, gave a list of acts of violence at or near that mine. It included the tying of railroad ties and spikes on the railroad tracks over which coal trains run; the turning of a switch, which was discovered just before an express train came along; a railroad bridge damaged by dynamite and then set on fire and the sawing of timbers on the bridge after it had been repaired.

 

Andrew Carnegie.

CARNEGIE LIBRARIES.

Statement by the Donor of the Number Given and Possible Future Gifts.

   Washington, Jan. 8.—At the opening of the Carnegie library here, after President Roosevelt had finished Mr. Carnegie spoke. He said in part:

   "Free libraries maintained by the people are cradles of democracy and their spread can never fail to extend and strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, the royalty of man. They are emphatically fruits of the true American ideal."

   Mr. Carnegie paid several compliments to President Roosevelt as executive, citizen and author, and then referring to himself said he had given, chiefly within the past two years, 730 library buildings. During the month of July last 276 applications for library buildings were received by him from all parts of the English speaking world.

   When he arrived in New York last month from Europe he found awaiting him applications for 450 additional buildings. Today he has on hand 385 new applications, making in all under consideration now more than 800, "the great majority of which," he said, "will no doubt be given."

   Andrew Carnegie, after the dedication of the Washington public library, said that he was so well pleased with the new library and the use made of his gift of $350,000 and the provision for the support of the library that he would donate another $350,000 for the erection of branch libraries on the same condition as the original gift, namely, that the city provide the sites and arrange for the support of the libraries.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Closer Pan-American Relations.

   There is one phase of the Venezuela affair which has been but little touched upon, and that is its probable effect upon the relations of all the Americas, commercial as well as political. It seems quite evident that ultimately the hostile demonstrations of the allied European powers against Venezuela will have the effect of unifying the interests of all the republics on this hemisphere, north and south into something like a federation for self protection. Such a federation already exists in an uncrystallized state, but its development has been checked by the instability of southern governments, due to internecine strife and the jealousies existing among the smaller powers. The fact that nearly all of the South American republics, either directly or by implication, offered aid to the Venezuelans is significant of a common desire among them to recognize in fact their "community of interests."

   Underlying revolutionary conditions in South and Central America there seems a general hope for organized, stable government, of republican form, in the various countries and a universal desire for a thorough understanding among the powers there and with the United States. No doubt the leaders in the different countries realize the benefits of the Monroe doctrine and appreciate the value of haring so powerful a friend as the United States.

   While an actual alliance is perhaps neither desirable nor possible, the attitude toward Venezuela of the European allies will doubtless promote the proposed protective union and bring about better relations among all southern governments, Mexico and the United States, thus stimulating an all American organization for defense against outside nations and for the preservation of peace on this continent.

   From such a close relation the United States should greatly benefit commercially. The demonstrations against Venezuela can hardly fail to create something of hatred and distrust of European powers, which will help American commerce in the South and Central American states, now beginning to realize where their true interests lie.

 

FOLLOWING THE CLUES.

Coroner Santee is Very Non-Committal Concerning the Matter.

   A report was in circulation today in Cortland that Coroner Santee assisted by a local chemist had boiled up the bones which he secured Tuesday night from the grave of William Kiehl in Otisco, had made tests for arsenic and had found arsenic in them. A Standard man inquired of the coroner in regard to this and that official refused to either confirm or deny the report. He stated that when he was acting solely in his official capacity as coroner he himself was alone concerned and he felt at perfect liberty to give out whatever information he wished to. But now he is acting under the instructions of the district attorney, and he preferred not to say anything about the case on the ground that if any information is made public, it should come from the district attorney and not from him.

   An attempt was made to see District Attorney Dowd, but he was then engaged with the grand jury and could not be interviewed before The Standard went to press.

 

Cortland Hospital on North Main Street.

THE CORTLAND HOSPITAL.

Acknowledgment Of the Following Gifts in Recent Weeks.

   The Cortland hospital makes grateful acknowledgment of the following gifts received in recent weeks:

   Dishes and old linen, W. C. T. U.; night shirts and linen, Mrs. Freeman Howe; can fruit and breakfast food, Mrs. A. A. Carley; old muslin, Mrs. John Raymond; cranberries and bananas, Mrs. R. H. Duell; dishes and old linen, Mrs. James M. Milne; for Mrs. Schermerhorn's room, 1 dozen sheets, 1 dozen pillow cases, 1 dozen towels, 3 bath towels, 1 dozen napkins, 1 bed spread, from Mrs. Lewis B. Henry, Mrs. John W. Fisher, and Mrs. Geo. J. Schermerhorn; towels and napkins, Normal school faculty; sugar and cranberries, Dr. Strowbridge; magazines, Mrs. Walrad; duck, Mr. Smith; canned fruit, Mrs. U. S. Milburn; canned fruit and vegetables from the Junior league of First M. E. church; sewing for hospital by Mrs. W. W. Hout, Miss Florence Jennison, Mrs. George Lester, Mrs. Klotten, Sr., Mrs. J. B. Smith, Mrs. H. Colligan; apples and canned fruit, Mrs. E. Mudge; old muslin, Mrs. Brong; Hopkins florist, mistletoe; Frost florist, flowers; Mrs. DeCoudres, 1  sterilizer; Y. M. C. A., 1 chicken pie, Chas. Price, discount on sprinkling, $2; Mr. Cogswell discount on printing, $1.50; S. P. Smith, discount on meat bill, 85 cents.

   Omitted from list of Thanksgiving offerings: $5 from churches in Cincinnatus; Mrs. F. D. Smith, 1 dozen cans vegetables.

   The following ladies of Scott donated fruit to the hospital last month: Miss Anna Hall, Mrs. F. J. Booth, Mrs. W. W. Babcock, Mrs. D. J. Cutrell, Mrs. Welma Unckers, Mrs. Finn Barber, Mrs. G. J. Barber, Mrs. H. J. Ball, Mrs. Mabel Langdon, Mrs. W. J. Parry.

   Donations from McGrawville: Mrs. S. Wheeler, muslin, 3 cans fruit; Mrs. A. L. Shuler, apples, 5 cans fruit; Mrs. L. Parsons, 3 cans fruit; Mrs. Ensign, muslin, apples and 1 can fruit; Mrs. Shultz, 1 can fruit; Mrs. Forshee, 2 cans fruit; Mrs. C. T. Phillips, 1 can fruit; Mrs. P. W. Chaffee, 1 can fruit; Mrs. P. Hobart, muslin, 1 can fruit; Mrs. Wm. Lord, wine; Mrs. Chas. Manchester, apples, 1 can fruit; Mrs. J. E. Bowdish, 1 can fruit; Mrs. C. B. Warren, linen, 1 can fruit; Mrs. Koenig, 12 cans fruit.

   Mrs. Hendrick and Mrs. Kingman, 2 cans fruit, salmon and maple sugar.

 

Attention, Odd Fellows.

   All Odd Fellows are requested to meet at Vesta lodge rooms on Friday, Jan. 9, at 1:30 p. m. to attend the funeral of their brother, Denison Pierce.

 

Death of J. D. Pierce.

    J. Dennison Pierce died at his home, 4 Cleveland-st. yesterday. His age was 54 years and 9 months. The deceased leaves a wife and two sons, Fred D. and Edward A., and a daughter, Janet. The funeral will be held at the house on Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock and at 2:30 o'clock at the Congregational church.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The Y. M. C. A, basketball team went to Watertown today to engage the team of that place in a game this evening.

   —The Workmen's Relief association will meet this evening at 7:30 o'clock at the office of H. L. Davis in the old Savings bank building.

   —The installation of officers of Pecos Tribe, No. 357, Improved Order of Red Men, will occur this evening. District Deputy George H. Gleason will be the installing officer.

   —The Masonic trip to DeRuyter on Saturday night of this week to accept the invitation of DeRuyter lodge has been given up. Because it is Saturday night so many of the business men will be unable to get away that the whole plan has been given up.

   —Norman Northrup, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Northrup of 104 Port Watson-st. died this morning after a short illness from pneumonia. His age was 17 years and 11 months. His death is a sad blow to the parents.  The funeral will be held on Saturday at 2 o'clock at the house.

   —The new display advertisements today are—G. H. Wiltsie, Millinery sale, page 4; Baker &. Angell, Shoes. page 6; W. W. Bennett, Sterling ranges and second hand stoves, page 6; Opera House, "The Cortland Entertainers," page 5; Opera House, "Howe's moving pictures," page 5.